There was a time when defenders across the Premier League feared the sight of Thierry Henry — a striker who combined grace with grit, elegance with explosiveness.
And yet, when asked to name the greatest player the league has ever seen, the Frenchman didn’t choose himself or any fellow forward.
Instead, he looked to the heart of Manchester United’s midfield and humbly declared Paul Scholes as the best to ever do it.
“I would have to go Paul Scholes,” Henry told Sky Sports.
“I don’t think people have given him the credit he deserves. He could do anything.” High praise from a man who tore through Premier League defences for fun — and yet, not a rare opinion among those who truly understand the game.
Barcelona legend Xavi echoed a similar sentiment in 2011, describing Scholes as “the most complete midfielder” he had ever seen.
For a player with 11 Premier League titles, 499 appearances, and a career that spanned two decades, Scholes was remarkably quiet both on and off the pitch — perhaps the very reason he often flew under the radar.
In an era where flair grabbed headlines and charisma built brands, Scholes preferred the shadows, doing the dirty work that made United’s attacking machine purr.
In a team bursting with global superstars — from Beckham to Ronaldo — Scholes was the quiet engine room.
For England, he stepped aside, shifting wide left to make room for Lampard and Gerrard, sacrificing personal glory for the team.
But now, with legends like Henry and Xavi lifting his name into football’s highest ranks, Paul Scholes is finally receiving the recognition he long deserved — not as the loudest voice, but as one of the Premier League’s truest maestros.
